nursery rhyme

noun

1. a short, simple poem or song for very young children, as Hickory Dickory Dock.

nursery rhyme

noun

1. a short traditional verse or song for children, such as Little Jack Horner

Word History and Origins

Origin of nursery rhyme¹

First recorded in 1835–45

Example Sentences

The piece she chooses is by Edgar Albert Guest, a rhythmic, staccato quasi nursery rhyme titled, “It Couldn’t Be Done.”

From Time

One song interweaves adult themes into nursery rhyme cadence.

From The Daily Beast

The ending of a nursery rhyme every youngster knows turned wrenching in the rubble where seven kids had died.

From The Daily Beast

We passed through Banbury, whose cross, famous in nursery rhyme, is only modern.

From Project Gutenberg

It derived its name from King Cole, the "merry old soul" of the familiar nursery rhyme.

From Project Gutenberg

No Anglo-Saxon can see them without thinking of the nursery rhyme of the "wise men of Gotham who went to sea in a tub."

From Project Gutenberg

Olive, seeing her counting out her money, like the queen in the nursery rhyme, had stopped short near the door.

From Project Gutenberg

Who before suspected that the nursery-rhyme was written by Jack Horner himself?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cadence
• poem
• poetry
• rhythm
• tune
• verse